Kellar wins, Boydston edges Ender

City Councilman Bob Kellar pretends to write in a huge lead as he waits for election returns at his election return party held at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Canyon Country on Tuesday. Kellar took an early lead Tuesday.

Incumbent Bob Kellar was the big winner in Tuesday’s Santa Clarita City Council race, and former city councilman TimBen Boydston is heading back to City Hall after unseating Mayor Laurie Ender in a closely contested race.

The clatter of the city’s vote-counting machines filled the air at City Council chambers as residents awaited the results Tuesday night. Five candidates vied for the two seats to serve four-year terms on the council.

Ender declined to comment until final results were in, and Kellar, who garnered 7,045 votes, could not be reached for comment.

Volunteers at polling places around the city reported things went smoothly during ballot-casting, although Saugus voters who had to go to Central Park faced chilly temperatures and windy conditions at a makeshift polling place set up outside.

Poll worker Mary Henderson, of Saugus, said her biggest problem was the temperature, but she was seeing higher numbers than normal for a City Council election

“We’ve been busier than I expected for a city election,” said Henderson, who added that 202 ballots had been issued for voters as of 7 p.m.

The Saugus precinct voting at the park contained 6,225 total voters. One Canyon Country woman walked to her polling place at Canyon Country Park with her two rescued greyhounds, Chloe and Bella.

“I love coming to the park to vote,” Kathy Baxter said. “You can walk your dogs and vote, too.”Both Canyon Country precincts at the park reported low turnout, with 108 out of 1,900 active voters voting by 6:35 p.m. in Precinct 50 and 83 voters out of 2,390 active voters showing up at Precinct 42.

A polling place at Wiley Canyon Elementary School in Newhall also reported low numbers, with about 200 voters showing up at the polls out of 11,100 total voters.

The election was characterized by numerous campaign forums and an increase in campaign donations approved in July 2010, which allowed contributors to give up to $1,000, up from the previous limit of $360. Kellar was the only council member to vote against the increase.